Jenna Ortega stars as Vada, a high schooler in emotional freefall after a school shooting alters her friends, family, and other relationships in her orbit. Others affected by the shooting act out in different ways to cope with their pain. Once-silly Nick (Will Ropp) becomes an overnight sensation as a victim’s advocate, while Quinton (left injured by the shooting) proves to be the most surprisingly emotionally stable. Meanwhile, Shailene Woodley co-stars in a small role as a therapist. Director Megan Park effectively makes the transition from actress and singer to feature filmmaker (her past credits include music videos such as Billie Eilish’s “Watch,” as well as short films).
But it’s Ortega who emerges again as a breakout star. She played the pivotal role in the second season of Netflix’s “You” as Ellie Alves, wise and young neighbor to Penn Badgley’s secret serial killer Joe. Ortega most recently stepped it up big time in “Scream 5” as Tara Carpenter, who answers the phone in the film’s first scene. More from IndieWire’s review of “The Fallout” out of SXSW:
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